Vaccinations are a preventative measure for diseases spread easily through the air or water. While it is not possible to completely prevent diseases from spreading, vaccinations can reduce the risk of contracting particular illnesses. Vaccinations at Prudent Medical Providers are administered by injection or using a nasal spray.
The most common vaccinations are tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and polio. These vaccinations help prevent illness in some individuals who may be unable to get proper medical treatment because they have not been vaccinated against these diseases.
Here is how vaccines work and the different types of vaccinations.
How vaccines work
A vaccination contains a weakened form of the disease-causing organism grown in a laboratory and combined with a sterile liquid containing chemicals that stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies against the organism. The vaccine is injected into your arm or leg.
Vaccines are usually given in two doses. One for young children and another for older children and adults who have not yet had a certain disease known as boosters. For instance, a booster may be needed if you have not had measles since you were vaccinated as a child.
Types of vaccinations
Live-attenuated vaccines: Live-attenuated vaccines are used to provide immunity against disease. The virus is weakened or killed, so it cannot cause the disease. This is done by exposing the virus to high temperatures, ultraviolet light, or chemicals such as formaldehyde. The vaccine is then purified and given to people at risk of getting the disease.
Live-attenuated vaccines are recommended for adults who have never had a live vaccine before because they may have some protection against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), yellow fever, varicella or chickenpox, and rabies.
Subunit vaccines: Subunit vaccines contain specific antigens which stimulate the immune system and induce protective antibodies against particular microbes, such as poliovirus, tetanus, and diphtheria, for example. Subunit vaccines can be given by injection or nasal spray. They may be used as a single vaccination or in combination with other vaccinations to boost immunity against more than one disease at a time.
Toxoid vaccines: Toxoid vaccines are made from the toxins of various pathogenic organisms. These toxins are known to cause human disease but have been rendered non-poisonous by heat treatment. The most common is diphtheria toxoid, which produces a mild form of the disease. However, many other toxoids can be used, and their indications and contraindications should be carefully considered before administration.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines: Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are a type of vaccination. They deliver genetic material from the vaccine to the cells that produce antibodies. This genetic information is used to make copies of the gene and produce new antibodies.
The vaccine is injected into a vein or muscle and transported to the lymph nodes and spleen. The body then makes antibodies against the protein in the vaccine, which can be detected in blood tests several weeks later.
Vaccinations are a way to protect yourself and your family from diseases that germs can spread. There are many different types of vaccinations, and they come in many forms. Some vaccines are given by injection, and some are given by mouth. Vaccines can protect you against diseases like polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and chicken pox. Besides, vaccines also help control the spread of many other illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella. Reach out to your physician for all types of vaccines.
